Fluid valve



July 7, 1953 E EARLE UAL 2,644,480

. FLUID VALVE med oet. 27, 1948 @lived/:gy

Y particular installation. 'i

Patented' July 7, 1953 *UNITED STATES v*a;ri-:,N'rorricie vFLUID VALVE y 7 ClarenceE. Earle, Washington, D. C., and Carl A,

Covington, Alexandria, Va. Application October 27, 1948,

serial No. 56,748-

ie claims'. (ci. isi-469) ,y

"This invention relates tovrfluid valvesadapted for useas pop valves, pressure regulators,l pressure reclucers, and pulsators, and is applicableto various other diierential pressure responsive apparatus. It Vis particularly Ywell-.suited for installations where response to small pressure differentials is necessary and whereV rapid opening and closing of ports 'at rather definite pressure values is important;

The patented art is replete with disclosures ofv pressure responsive valves which present a relatively small area exposed. to'inlet pressure while the valve is closed, and a relatively larger area.

when the valve is open, for the purpose of opening at onepredetermined pressure and closing-at a different predetermined pressure. vIn accordanceY with the present inventiomthe advantages of such devices havebeen adopted and carried farther by providing a snap action for both the opening and `closing phases of their operating cycles.r Y

The uid valve of the present invention coni- Vprises a housing, a valve seat in the housing, a

body reciprocable in the housing to and from engagement with theV seat, biasing means urging the body towards engagement with the seat, and latching means actuated bythe body during its travel toV modify the effect of the biasing means on the body.l The latching means is alternately actuated and released by the travelof the body, becoming eiective upon travel of the body in one direction and ineffective upon travel of the body in the other direction. .l The Valve seat itself is preferably capable lof -limited ereciprocation in the housing -zto .the end thatLduringan vopening operation, the. seatfwill travel a short distance with the valve body before separation and 'duringl a closing operation, the seat will 'travel a shortv 4distance with the body to effect a more positive seat. The `seat may assume the form of a rubber or rubber-like annulus and may be toroidal. The

, biasing'means for the valve body may be denned by a pluralityiof concentricsprings, one of which continuously urges the body towards engagement-1 with` the seat and another ofwhicliintermittently urges the body-towards its seatythe effect of the second of these springs being nullii'ie'd wl'ienl Atliebodylfias departed from its scatto a predeter-l mined extent." The biasing means'or springs are rendered adjustable in order that tlievalve canf be rcalibrated to fulfill the requirements ofl a' in a sleeve penetrating its'wall for the reception of a corresponding number of detent elements which ordi-v narily ride against the internal wall of the house` Y ing'and project internally of the'sleeve suiliciently to obstruct movement of the body in one direction with respect to the sleeve. A recess for the detent or ball elements, provided ata suitable portion of the housing permits lthe detent to move outwardly. until the sleeve is no longer, obstructed whereupon ,the body vcan move with respectto the Vsleeve and simultaneously latch the sleeve v With'respect -to the housing vdur-ing ar-predeter-` pressure-and close the inlet port.

mined further inovementof the body. Since one ofthe biasing springs contemplated bears directly upon the sleeve, its eifect will be removed with respect to the body so long as the sleeve is latched with respect to the housing. An abutment on the body for engagement with the detent elements is preferably tapered to urge the elements outwardly into the recess, and similarly, the recess is deiined by at least 'one taperedfwall for urging the cletent` elements inwardly during relative motion of the sleeve in one direction. The sleeve may also kprovide a limiting stop for cooperation with the body abutment.

v The arrangement of the inlet port, outlet port and resilient seat may be such that movement of the body lin one direction sequentially opens the inlet port, exposes the larger area of' the body to inlet port pressure, opens the outlet port, and

-actiiates the latching mechanism to remove a portion oi the biasing eiiect. v Movement of tlie body in the other direction may sequentially release thelatching means, close trie outlet port. reduce the area of the body exposed to inlet port tion will follow irom a detailed description of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Eig. i is a sectional elevation exemplifying the invention as applied to a pop valve; and

l Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are sectional eievatlons similar to If'lg. 1 depicting trie positions assumed by the parts at vvarious stages during-an Operating cycle. The housing',` IU'. isprovided. with e external threads .lat itslower endwhicl'i dennesan inlet porti for `iiuid whose pressure it is desired to control. f The Vhousing is provided with an inV ternal counter'oore it ior reception of a toroidal rubber .or rubber-like seat I8 whose longitudinal dimension is somewhat smaller than that of the counterboreV to .permit limitedreciprocatory y movement ofthe seat with respect tothe housing.

Ari internal shoulder .2 il separates the counterbore i6 from a second counterbore 22 invvliicli'tlie valve body 24 is received for reciprocation. The lower edge 26 of the body is reduced to provide a relatively sharp edge for cooperation with the flexible seat I8 so that when the valve is in its closed position as depicted in Fig. 1, a relatively small area 28 is exposed to the inlet port pressure. The valve body is provided with a step 30 defining .a relatively larger area for exposure to inlet port'fpressure as depicted in Figs. 2, ;3 and 4.

Radial' outlet ports 32 formed through the wall of the housing are controlled by the valve body, which' has completely uncovered them in the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Above the .outlet ports, the body contains a larger counterbore 34 containing an intermediate groove 35 provid-1 ing inclined walls 3B and 4Q for the reception of detent lballs 42 carried by inwardly 'convergent pockets i4 penetrating the wall of agsleeve It will be recognized that an opening movement of the valve body will be greatly accelerated 54, through the position depicted in Fig. 3; the

whichl is internally bored to receive the body 24.

The upper end of the body is provided with an inclined lsurface 43 which bears ag-ainstthe detent balls 4`t2 during a por-tion of the operation and againsta complementary inclined surface 5i) formed interna-ily' at the upper portion of the sleeve 67 during another phase ofthe operation, The upper end of the body is also provided with a recess 52'which serves as a seatfor the lower end oa biasing spring whose upper end bears upon'lan adjustable stop Se threaded-ly received by an adjustable nut VE8' which is in turn adjustably received by thet-hreads 60 formed internally atthe upper end ofthe housing 1Q. A second biasing Yspring 62 is inter-posed 'between the lower end of the adjustable nut 58 vand the upper surface of the sleeve 46. The adjustable stop y56 is provided with a central perforation V64 extending therethrough to serve as a vent for the upper portion ofthe housing -to avoid damping of the valve body. n

Fig. l represents thel parts in t-he positions assumd when the valve is closed. When the pressure applied to the relatively -reduced area 28 of the valve body exceeds Ythe value for which the biasing springs `are calibrated and adjusted by their threaded elements 56 and 53, the valve body 24 and the reciproeable seat I8 will start to move upwardly, as viewed in the drawings, and since the balls 42 obstruct the body -24 againstrelative movemenftvin `.the sleeve 45, the sleeve will move correspondingly, with lthe result that the moving system will be opposed by both of the biasing springs 54V and Yiii-2. When Ithe resilient seat I8 reaches the limit. of its reciproeationY as dened by the shoulder 2t, iur-ther upward movement of the valve body `and its latching means defined by the detents 42 carried bythe sleeve 4S, will pro'- duce a relationship of parts similar to that depicted by Fig. 2 where'the balls 42 are being urged outwardly by the inclined surface 48 at the upper end oi the yalve body so that the balls will enter the recess 36 deined in the housing wall as soon as registry has been attained.

After such registry occurs, the balls will move outwardly tothe positionsshown in Fig'. 3 and will be restrained against inward movement so long as the valve body obstruets the pockets 44. Under these conditions the eect of the spring 62 upon the valve. body will be nullied so that the only biasing force to be overcome by the iiuid under pressure is that imposed by the spring 54.v

Further movementof the valve body can continue until the stop defined bythe inclined surface 50 of the sleeve is engaged by the complementary surfraergl on the body. a condition which hasteln @seines in. Fia .1-

body Acontinues to move downwardly uncovering the Isleeve pockets 44, whereupon the balls 42 riding on -t/l'ie inclined -wall 3H of the housing recess 35' will move inwardly under the eieot of the spring 62, into .contact with the upper end of the valve body which will then continue downwardly at an accelerated rate under the supplemental force of the spring 52. causing the lower edge of the yalve :body to engage the seat .1.3 with which it continues to move until the downward travel has'reached its llimit eand a firm seal Yhas vbeen established by theimpact Applications .of this invention have been highly successful even where the pressure .diierentials have :been of the order of a sma'll Vfraction .of a pound per square inch. The .opera-.tion of the valve is inherently rapid in both directions of travel, producing a .snap action during vboth its opening and closing phases. Thus both lag and wireedrawing can 'be reduced apprecia'bly .and over regulation prevented to a marked degree.

Whereas the invention has been exemplified as applied to a pop valve, many variations vand modifications beyond those .described will occur to those skilled inthe Vart just as they have been recognized. already by the present inventors. Accordingly, the invention should not be limited to the apparatus selected for illustration beyond the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A iiu-id valve comprising a housing, a valve seat in said housing, a body reciprocable in said housing to and from engagement with said seat. abutment means .carried by said housing fixed relative to said body, biasing means interposed between said abutment means and body continueously urging'said body towards engagement with said seat, and latching means alternately ac.- tuated and released by said body during its travel to modify the effect of said biasing means on said body.

2. A fluid yalve comprising a housing, a valve seat in said housing, a body reciprocable in said housing to and from engagement with said seat, abutment means carried by said housing fixed relative to said body, biasing. means interposed between said abutment means and body continu.- ously urging said body towards engagement with said seat, and latching means rendered ineiece tive by said body v.during its travel in one directQlliO modify the effect of said biasing means said bedr Y 3, A fluid valve ccm-prisme a housing, said housing .GQ mine a counterbore of substanE @ally gestiong a valve seat reeiprocable in Said @Lauterberg a body reiprecabie in seid housing te and trom engagement with .saidseat biasing means ontinuously urging said body tn- Wards engagement with said seat, and latchine means actuated by said body during its travel to. modify the eiect of .said biasing means on said body.

seat in said housing, a body reciprocable insaid housing to and from engagement with saidseat,

abutment means carried -by'said housing lxed te inletL pon pressureLwhenL-seatea and a larger area exposed tosaid pressure when unseated, bi-

` f asingfmeans continuously urging said body togrelative-to said body,a plurality of biasing means ,l

housing to and from engagement withsaid seat,

abutment means carried by`said housing xed relative to said body, a biasing spring interposed' between said abutment means and body continuously urging said body towards engagement with said seat, a second biasing spring intermittently seat, and latching means actuated by said body during its travel to control the effect of said second biasing means on said body'.

6. A fluid valve comprisinga housing, a valve wards engagement with-said seat, and latching means actuated by'said body during its travel said body, movement 'of said body in one dire-ction sequentially actuating said latching means, closing said outlet port,l reducing the body area ex'- posed tov inlet port pressure, and closing said inlet port; v

11. A fluid valve comprising a housing, a valve seat in said housing, a sleeve reciprocable in said housing, a body reciprocable in said sleeve to and from engagement with said seat, biasing means vurging said sleeve and body towards said seat,

latch means including a detent restraining said lsleeve and ,body against relative movement in urging said body towards engagement with said seat in said housing, a body reciprocable .in said housing to and from engagement with said seat,

` abutmentv means carried by said housing fixed relative to said body, a plurality of biasing means interposed betweenv saidk abutment means andv body including at least one continuously urging said body towards engagement with said seat, adjustment means forsaid biasing means and latching means actuated by said body during its travel to modify the eiect of one of said biasing meansV on said body.

'7. A iiuid valve comprising a housing, a valve seat insaid housing,a sleeve reciprocable in said housing, a body received in said sleeve and reciprocable in said housing to and from engagement with said seat, biasing means effective in all positions of said body urging said sleeve and body y towards said seat, and means actuated by said body during its travel to secure said sleeve against movement with respect to said housing.

8. A fluid valve comprising a housing, a valve seat in said housing, va sleeve reciprocable in said housing, a body reciprocable in said sleeve and in said housing to and from engagement with 1 said seat,'biasing lmeans urging saidA sleeve towards said seat, biasing means urging said body towards engagement with said seat, and latching l means carried by said sleeve actuated by said' body duringv its travel for cooperation with said vhousing to modify the veect of the first said biasing means. f o y 9. -A uid valve comprisingar housing having an inlet port and an outlet port, a valve seat in said housing intermediate said ports, a body reciprocable in said housing tofand fromengagement with said seat, said body having an area exposed to inlet port pressure when seated and a larger area exposed to said pressure when unseated, biasingmeans continuously urging said body towards engagement withV said seat, and latching means actuated by said body during its Vtravel to modify the Veffect of said biasingl means on said body, movement of said 'body in one direc-` tion sequentially opening said inlet port, exposing said larger area to inlet port pressure, opening said outlet port and actuating said latching means, y

10. A uid valve comprising a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port, a valve I seat in said housing intermediate said ports, a body reciprocable in said housing to and from engagement with said seat, said body having an area exposed one direction, and means provided by said hous= ing to release said restraining means at :a predetermined departure of said body' with respect to said seat. l

12. A fluidvalve comprising a housing, a valve se-at in said housing, a sleevereciprocable in said housing, a detent pocketnpenetrating said sleeve, a detent received in said pocket normally projectingv beyond rsaid pocket and obstructing said sleeve internally, said housing providing -a recess -.for reception of said detent upon displacementV from said obstructing condition, a body recipe rocable in said sleeve to and from engagement .with said seat, an'abutment carried by said -body means urging said body and sleeve towards said seat, said sleeve moving with said body while said detent obstructs said sleeve, said body moving relative to vsaid sleeve upon displacement of said detent into said recess. l

lli.A A fluid valve comprising a housing, a valve seat in said housing, a body reciprocable in said housing to and from engagement with said seat', biasing means urging said body towards engagement with said seat, detent means reciprocable in said housing for cooperation with said housing and body, and an abutment provided by said body for shifting said detent means during its travel to modify the effect of said biasing means on said body.

le, A fluid valve comprising a housing, a valve seat in said housing, a body reciprocable in said housing to and from engagement with said seat, biasing means continuously urging said body towards engagement with said seat, and a ball detent actuated by Said body during its travel to reduce the eiectl oi said biasing means on said body.

15. A fluid valve comprising a housing, -a valve seat in s aidhousing, a sleeve and a body received thereby reciprocable in said housing, biasing means urging said sleeve and body towards said seat, and a ball detent carried by said sleeve inter-posed in the path traversed by said body as it moves from said seat, said housing providinga recess to receive said detent during au pr'edeter-V Y ving actuated by movement of said body during its travel to nullify `the effect of the other .of vsaid Number f .Name n .Date sprngsonrsadrbo'dy. 1,770,912 `Clapp -V July 22, 1930 f CLARENCE E. EARLE. 1,808,212 EarlV P- June 2. 1931 CARL A. COVINGTON. ,2,030,143 Giger Feb. 11, 1936 5 2,248,807 Carlson July 8, 1941 References Cited in the file 0f this patent l305,029 5312er Dec 22*l 1942 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,332,1630 Fawkes Oct. 26V, 1943 Number Name Date FOREIGN PATENTS 118.11022 Wilson v- July 3, 1928 10 Number Country Date 1,124,203 Bmgley Jan- 5 1915 4539,602y Greatmain -Y De lo, 1935 .1,624,130 Beygs.,.-.,......--..- Apr. 12, .1927 

